Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia
Writing in foreign language classes has long been a challenge for both teachers and students. With the rise of globalization, there is an urgent need for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers to help stu-dents develop writing skills needed to function effectively in a society. This article re...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya
2018-05-01
|
| Series: | Beyond Words |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.wima.ac.id/index.php/BW/article/view/1673 |
| _version_ | 1818283997622435840 |
|---|---|
| author | Nino Jakhaia Kerry Holmes |
| author_facet | Nino Jakhaia Kerry Holmes |
| author_sort | Nino Jakhaia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Writing in foreign language classes has long been a challenge for both teachers and students. With the rise of globalization, there is an urgent need for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers to help stu-dents develop writing skills needed to function effectively in a society. This article reports on the practic-es and experiences of teachers of English in Georgian schools. It discusses how writing instruction is enacted in schools; how teachers perceive their pre-service education and professional opportunities re-garding writing. The results of a qualitative analysis of teacher interviews indicate that (a) inadequate preparation at a pre-service level is a major concern for teachers; (b) absence of a unified curriculum on composition studies in schools prevents teachers from the implementation of the writing assignments in the classrooms; (c) teachers are seeking their own learning and professional growth pathways despite the lack of systematic professional development opportunities. Based on the findings, pedagogical implica-tions are discussed with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning of written English in foreign lan-guage in Georgia and ultimately, in other foreign language contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:45:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc723f71bd71417baf1a6e5933c2df70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2460-6308 2338-6339 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:45:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beyond Words |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc723f71bd71417baf1a6e5933c2df702022-12-22T00:05:02ZengWidya Mandala Catholic University SurabayaBeyond Words2460-63082338-63392018-05-0161162510.33508/bw.v6i1.16731415Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet GeorgiaNino Jakhaia0Kerry Holmes1Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Teacher Education University of MississippiThe University of MississippiWriting in foreign language classes has long been a challenge for both teachers and students. With the rise of globalization, there is an urgent need for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers to help stu-dents develop writing skills needed to function effectively in a society. This article reports on the practic-es and experiences of teachers of English in Georgian schools. It discusses how writing instruction is enacted in schools; how teachers perceive their pre-service education and professional opportunities re-garding writing. The results of a qualitative analysis of teacher interviews indicate that (a) inadequate preparation at a pre-service level is a major concern for teachers; (b) absence of a unified curriculum on composition studies in schools prevents teachers from the implementation of the writing assignments in the classrooms; (c) teachers are seeking their own learning and professional growth pathways despite the lack of systematic professional development opportunities. Based on the findings, pedagogical implica-tions are discussed with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning of written English in foreign lan-guage in Georgia and ultimately, in other foreign language contexts.http://journal.wima.ac.id/index.php/BW/article/view/1673efl teachers, composition instruction, professional development. |
| spellingShingle | Nino Jakhaia Kerry Holmes Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia Beyond Words efl teachers, composition instruction, professional development. |
| title | Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia |
| title_full | Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia |
| title_fullStr | Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia |
| title_short | Teaching Composition in Schools: Challenges of EFL Teachers in Post-Soviet Georgia |
| title_sort | teaching composition in schools challenges of efl teachers in post soviet georgia |
| topic | efl teachers, composition instruction, professional development. |
| url | http://journal.wima.ac.id/index.php/BW/article/view/1673 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ninojakhaia teachingcompositioninschoolschallengesofeflteachersinpostsovietgeorgia AT kerryholmes teachingcompositioninschoolschallengesofeflteachersinpostsovietgeorgia |